Franchise group gobbles up Round Table Pizza chain

(1 of )The Round Table Pizza chain was sold to an Atlanta-based franchise group Sept. 15, 2017. (SCS Wraps)

STAFF REPORT

NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL | September 25, 2017

The Bay Area’s Round Table Pizza chain has been acquired by Atlanta-based Global Franchise Group, a group that manages several chains, it was announced Sept. 15.

Round Table has 440 U.S. locations in seven states and 10 international locations, and dozens in the Bay Area.

The chain was founded in Menlo Park in 1959 and headquartered in Concord.

The price of the sale was not disclosed.

Global Franchise Group owns fashion and specialty food companies including Marble Slab Creamery/Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery, Pretzelmaker and Great American Cookies.

The company said in a statement it plans to remodel restaurants, as well as invest in improvements to the franchise’s technological capabilities.

“Global Franchise Group has successfully grown both organically and via acquisition. We know how to champion brands and operate and support profitable concepts to take them to the next level," said Chris M. Dull, president and CEO. "Round Table Pizza is an iconic pizza brand with a loyal consumer base, a strong franchise community and superior products – consistent with everything Global Franchise Group stands for. We have high expectations for Round Table’s integration into GFG as it’s a ‘center of the plate’ concept, has over $1 million in AUVs for its traditional dine-in concept*, and has potential to integrate into our manufacturing facility in Atlanta.”

Round Table had been employee-owned, and Round Table’s chairman Jack Robertson said this sale means that workers who have seen their equity increase now “allows them to reap the rewards of their hard work and dedication.”

The company had been recovering from federal bankruptcy since 2011, and reportedly increased its profits 11 percent over the last few years.